Chariots Comin'! (Swing Low, Sweet Chariot): 2-Part Choral Octavo
Arr. Don Besig and Nancy Price
Item: 00-PO-0003475
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Don Besig and Nancy Price combine Swing Low, Sweet Chariot with two new, original melodies to create one of the best partner songs we've heard in years. Great for choirs of any age. The accompaniment track is pure excitement. Easy piano part. It's another winner from Don and Nancy.
Chariots Comin'! (Swing Low, Sweet Chariot): 2-Part Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003475
More about this title
About the Arranger: Don Besig
Don Besig spent 31 years directing music in public schools across western New York, building thriving concert choirs and show choirs that earned recognition at clinics, contests, and community performances. His work spans all grade levels, from elementary through high school and adult ensembles. In 1987, recognizing that student singers and volunteer choirs needed repertoire written with their voices in mind, he began composing and arranging for his own groups. Since then, more than 350 of his original works and arrangements have been published by major school and church music houses, with sales exceeding 15 million copies.
Besig has received multiple ASCAP Special Awards for standard music and has served as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator at festivals and workshops across 40 states and Canada. He currently directs music at Perinton Presbyterian Church in Fairport, New York, and holds degrees from Ithaca College. His memberships include ACDA, MENC, NYSSMA, Phi Mu Alpha, and ASCAP.
Why we love this
This arrangement takes one of the most recognized spirituals in American music and adds two fresh, original companion melodies that create genuine partner-song magic without sacrificing singability. The recorded accompaniment is driven and joyful, energizing student singers without overwhelming them, while the piano part remains accessible enough for volunteer pianists. Besig and Price have designed this to work for intermediate choirs while remaining engaging enough that advanced groups will enjoy the movement, staging possibilities, and sheer fun of it.
What to expect
Buoyant and celebratory, with the spiritual's familiar melody anchoring the piece while two original melodies weave playfully around it. The swing-inflected accompaniment propels the singing forward, creating an infectious energy that feels both grounded in tradition and contemporary in spirit.
Who it's for
This octavo works for middle school, high school, and adult choirs seeking accessible yet musically satisfying sacred music. It's ideal for groups that want to tackle partner songs without steep technical demands or for programs looking to feature spirituals with fresh, contemporary arrangements.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the three melodic lines so each partner song remains audible; mark your score to show where singers should lean into their melody versus blend back into the overall texture.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the swing feel and energy, then rehearse a cappella passages to lock the blend and intonation before adding the piano back in.
- Stage the piece dynamically if your performance space allows; the partner-song structure invites divided positioning that can enhance the independence of each melodic line.
- Pay attention to rhythmic precision in the swing rhythms; even slight unevenness will muddy the energy and compromise the forward momentum the accompaniment provides.
How to use it
Program this in a concert celebrating African American sacred music or as an upbeat, community-friendly closer that leaves audiences smiling. Its theatrical possibilities and clear programming appeal make it equally at home in a choral showcase, holiday concert, or Sunday service where joy and accessibility matter.
Skills your students will build
- Singing partner songs with independent melodic lines
- Ensemble balance and blend across three simultaneous melodies
- Swing rhythm and syncopated rhythmic accuracy
- Building confidence with spirituals and African American musical traditions